Categories

In this episode, Roy welcomes Dr. Amy Cavanaugh, a licensed clinical and medical psychologist in the Acadiana area. Roy and Dr. Cavanaugh discuss the topic of psychotropic medications and their role in treating teenage mental health issues. Roy and Dr. Cavanaugh address the stigma these medications have in today's culture, the hesitance many parents encounter when this form of treatment is suggested, and that psychotropic medication is most effective when coupled with therapy and other mental health care. Dr. Cavanaugh and Roy also discuss how parents and adults can enable teens and other young people to develop coping and social strategies by allowing teens to encounter hard work and failure.

Click here for more information about the services Dr. Cavanaugh and her colleagues at Acadiana Medical Psychological Services can offer you and your teen.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

Roy has established Today's Teenager as a non-profit organization dedicated to covering the expenses of therapy sessions and other mental health services for teens and families that would otherwise be unable to afford them. Visit todaysteenager dot com for more information.

In this episode, Roy continues discussing the epidemic of teenage suicide by focusing on what adults can do when they recognize the signs that indicate a young person is contemplating suicide. Roy encourages adults to broach the subject with teens by first asking permission to discuss the issue, which allows teens to feel a measure of trust and security with the adult. Even resistant teens will be inclined to at least listen to what an adult has to say about suicide using this method.

Roy stresses that adults working with or parenting teens must understand that broaching the subject of teen suicide does not cause it to happen, but rather, exposes it to healthy discussion and most often, prevention. Roy explains that adults must work through their own discomfort to help reach today's teens, who are struggling with tremendous anxiety and stress. These struggles, Roy points out, are not getting any easier or diminishing for teens and are to blame for the high rate of teen suicide today.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

Roy has established Today's Teenager as a non-profit organization dedicated to covering the expenses of therapy sessions and other mental health services for teens and families that would otherwise be unable to afford them. Visit todaysteenager dot com for more information.

In the first in a two-part series on teen suicide, Roy confronts the epidemic of teenage suicide in the United States, beginning with a detailed examination of those mental health disorders that are most associated with suicidal tendencies. Roy also addresses the active and passive types of suicidal tendencies and explains the importance of viewing suicide from a mental health perspective instead of a moral one.

Finally, Roy shares the warning signs that signal a teen or other young person may be suffering from those mental health disorders that may lead to suicide. Roy also offers practical steps that adults can take if they suspect a teen or young person they know is considering suicide.

Roy encourages adults working with young people to take advantage of the resources offered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or AFSP. The AFSP's website can be found here and features a wide variety of resources helpful in addressing suicide as well as contact information for local ASFP charters. If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741-741.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

AFSP.

Roy has established Today's Teenager as a non-profit organization dedicated to covering the expenses of therapy sessions and other mental health services for teens and families that would otherwise be unable to afford them. Visit todaysteenager dot com for more information.

In part two of a 2-part series on understanding teens who identify as being on the LGBTQ spectrum, Roy offers practical strategies for helping these teens on their journey of self-discovery. Roy suggests that adults working with teens who self-identify as LGBTQ serve those teens best when they provide a safe place for teens to discuss their experiences, but also, by admitting their own ignorance and fear of the issue. Roy encourages those who works these teens and especially, those who parent them, to reject condescension and judgment and instead see their role as someone accompanying these young people on the journey of their identity exploration and identification.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

Roy has established Today's Teenager as a non-profit organization dedicated to covering the expenses of therapy sessions and other mental health services for teens and families that would otherwise be unable to afford them. Visit todaysteenager dot com for more information.